MISSOULA, Mont. (KECI) – Months after contracting COVID-19, a 13-year-old Montana boy is considered a “long-distance sufferer” as he continues to experience symptoms of the disease, including heart disease, muscle weakness and breathing problems.
It was months of pain for 13-year-old Hudson Beard, who contracted COVID-19 in November. He has not been to school since and he is still experiencing many symptoms of the disease.
“It’s hard,” Hudson said. “It’s really hard when doctors do not have an answer, and they’re like, ‘Well, let’s see what happens over time, and you might get better. We do not know. ”
In December, doctors diagnosed Hudson with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a disorder that causes his heart rate to jump as he stands. He gets dizzy every time he gets up or does basic tasks like reading or watching television.
Since then, his symptoms have only gotten worse and sent him to a hospital in Colorado for new problems discovered in his heart.
“My coronary arteries are both dilated,” Hudson said.
“His heart, we did not catch it for two months,” said Lisa Beard, Hudson’s mother. “So, now we’re dealing with a coronary problem that we do not know whether it will solve.”
Hudson also has new problems with breathing, persistent migraines, gastrointestinal problems and problems with the left side of his body, as he had a stroke.
“He has a lot of muscle weakness, and on his entire left side there was a lot of atrophy,” Beard said. “So, the rehabilitation is the same as if he had a stroke.”
Hudson now has a dedicated team of doctors and specialists who support him and his family during their journey, but they are still desperate for answers and healing.
“I wondered why I had all these symptoms, and every two weeks a new one appeared and why no doctors could explain it,” Hudson said.
Hudson has a new pet turtle that helps him spend time during the days, along with listening to audiobooks. Until more answers come, his days will continue to include doctor appointments and tests, while his parents do what they can think of to get him on the road to recovery.
“A lot of people really do not understand how dramatic the effects of COVID are on children,” Beard said. “We want to protect the vulnerable many times, small under 1 and elderly, but Hudson was a thriving, very active 13-year-old and the rest of my family has recovered, and he has not.”
Doctors say there is far more heart involvement in people who have had COVID-19 than they originally thought. One study used cardiac MRIs on 100 patients recovering from the virus, which showed cardiac involvement in 78 of the patients and heart inflammation in 60 of them.
If you have had COVID-19 and are experiencing chest pain or palpitations, it is a good idea to call your doctor.
For children who have had COVID-19, even without severe symptoms, doctors recommend a screening before returning to physical exercise or sports.
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